Flint “Leaders” Disregard Will of Voters, Say They Will Ignore Voter-Passed Marijuana Decriminalization Measure

 Law Enforcement Officials Declare Their Disapproval of City’s Undemocratic Approach

 FLINT, MI –The City of Flint has announced that despite a successful ballot measure decriminalizing the adult possession of marijuana approved by 54% of voters last week, it would continue to prosecute people for marijuana possession. Today Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, a group of law enforcement officials who support legalization of marijuana publicly condemned the city’s actions. 

“This is in direct violation of the wishes of voters who opted for a decriminalization approach similar to those successfully implemented in cities across the country,” said Executive Director Neill Franklin. “Keeping marijuana illegal benefits no one. It’s expensive, ineffective, and destroys the relationship between police and the communities they serve. The citizens of Flint spoke loud and clear in favor of change. City officials should respect the wishes of the voters who put them into office and can remove them just as easily.”

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) represents police, prosecutors, judges, corrections officials and others who, after witnessing the harms of the drug war firsthand, are now devoted to ending that war. More info at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeMarijuana.com. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 14, 2012

CONTACT: Tom Angell – (202) 557-4979 or media@leap.cc

Pro-Legalization Cops Cheer Marijuana Reform Election Results

 Nine States and Localities Vote for More Sensible Drug Laws

 Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Speakers Available for Comment

In a historic night for drug law reformers, on Tuesday Colorado and Washington passed measures legalizing and regulating marijuana, Massachusetts became the 18th state to allow medical marijuana and six localities voted to modernize policies on marijuana. Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, a group of cops, judges, prosecutors and other law enforcement officials advocating for the legalization of drugs, has speakers on hand to comment.

Norm Stamper, former Seattle police chief, had this to say: “I cannot tell you how happy I am that after forty years of the racist, destructive exercise in futility that is the war on drugs, my home state of Washington has now put us on a different path. There are people who have lost today: drug cartels, street gangs, those who profit from keeping American incarceration rates the highest in the world. For the rest of us, however, this is a win. It’s a win for taxpayers. It’s a win for police. It’s a win for all those who care about social justice. This is indeed a wonderful day.”

Reformers are now focused on successfully implementing the new marijuana legalization laws in Colorado and Washington, and on determining which states are most likely to enact legalization in the near future.

“Because of the victories in all of these places, we awakened this morning in a slightly better country. It’s a little safer, a little bit more just,” said Neill Franklin, Executive Director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and 34-year veteran of the Baltimore and Maryland State police departments. “And when the rest of the country follows the lead pioneered by the voters of Colorado and Washington, we’ll be closer to living in a country with a drug policy that is truly about public safety.” 

Following is a list of all marijuana reform measures on the ballot across the country and a list of LEAP speakers available to discuss these historic reforms:

Colorado: Marijuana legalization - Passed!

Washington: Marijuana legalization - Passed!

Oregon: Marijuana legalization – Failed.

Massachusetts:  Medical marijuana - Passed!

Arkansas: Medical marijuana – Failed.

Detroit, MI: Decriminalization of adult marijuana possession - Passed!

Flint, MI: Decriminalization of adult marijuana possession - Passed!

Ypsilanti, MI: Marijuana to be lowest law enforcement priority - Passed!

Grand Rapids, MI: Decriminalization of adult marijuana possession - Passed!

Kalamazoo, MI: Three medical marijuana dispensaries permitted in city - Passed! 

Burlington, VT: Recommendation that marijuana should be legalized - Passed! 

Montana: Referendum restricting medical marijuana likely to pass. 

Sampling of LEAP speakers available for comment:

Washington 

* Norm Stamper, former Seattle police chief

* Matt McCally, former corrections official

Colorado

* Tony Ryan, retired 36-year veteran of the Denver police force

* Jason Thomas, former Colorado detention officer and marshal’s deputy

* Sean McAllister, former assistant attorney general for the state of Colorado 

Massachusetts

* Karen Hawkes, retired Massachusetts state trooper and medical marijuana patient 

* Jack Cole, LEAP co-founder and former undercover narcotics agent

Other Speakers

* Neill Franklin, LEAP executive director and 34-year Baltimore narcotics cop

* Stephen Downing, Former LAPD Deputy Chief of Police

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 7, 2012

CONTACT: Tom Angell – (202) 557-4979 or media @leap.cc

                  Darby Beck - (415) 823-5496 or darby@leap.cc

Full Election Results for All Measures

What an incredible night! Nine victories for drug law reform all across the country! In case you missed it, here is a summary of results and links to the pages where they can be found for all marijuana measures appearing on the ballot last night. 

Colorado Amendment 64: Marijuana legalization - Passed! http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/43032/110893/en/summary.html#

Washington I-502: Marijuana legalization - Passed!

http://vote.wa.gov/results/current/Initiative-Measure-No-502-Concerns-marijuana.html

Oregon Measure 80: Marijuana legalization – Failed. http://www.oregonvotes.gov/results/2012G/645489344.html

Massachusetts Question 3: Medical marijuana - Passed!

http://www.boston.com/news/special/politics/2012/general/mass-ballot-question-3-election-results-2012.html

Arkansas Issue 5: Medical marijuana – Failed.

http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/42843/110897/en/summary.html

Detroit, MI Proposal M: Decriminalization of adult marijuana possession - Passed!

http://www.waynecounty.com/documents/elections_docs/1112P_345a.pdf

Flint, MI City Code Amendment: Decriminalization of adult marijuana possession - Passed!

http://www.co.genesee.mi.us/clerk/images/Election%20results/CurrentElecResults/elecdata/summary.htm

Ypsilanti, MI: Marijuana to be police’s lowest priority - Passed!

http://electionresults.ewashtenaw.org/nov2012/cumulativereport.html

Grand Rapids, MI Proposal 2: Decriminalization of adult marijuana possession - Passed!

http://www.electionmagic.com/results/mi/K41results/K4100602sum.htm#02Ci

Kalamazoo, MI: Three medical marijuana dispensaries permitted in city - Passed!

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2012/11/kalamazoo_medical_marijuana_di_1.html

Burlington, VT: Recommendation that marijuana should be legalized - Passed!

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20121106/NEWS03/311060027/-1/RSS22?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Montana: Referendum restricting medical marijuana likely to pass.

http://electionresults.sos.mt.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=BQ&map=CTY

Journalists wishing to arrange interviews with LEAP speakers should contact Tom Angell at media@leap.cc or Darby Beck at darby@leap.cc. 

More Election Results

On an otherwise spectacular evening for drug law reform, and amid what appear to be victories for decriminalization  in Flint and Ypsilanti, voters in Arkansas defeated Issue 5, an initiative to allow medical marijuana, and Oregonians fail to approve their own statewide legalization measure. 

LEAP speaker and former federal agent Jamie Haase on Arkansas:

"While medical marijuana consistently polls at 70-80% support nationwide, no one thought it was going to be easy passing a medical marijuana law in the South. However, the close election result tonight does show that there is a large and growing constituency of supporters here and that this is an issue that needs to be taken seriously by politicians. While people who use medical marijuana with their doctors' recommendations are still at risk of being arrested in Arkansas, we know that the day when the law will allow medical professionals rather than politicians to make medical decisions is closer than ever."

LEAP Executive Director and 36-year police veteran Neill Franklin on Oregon: 

"We had, of course, hoped to complete the trifecta for marijuana legalization wins tonight, and the fact that we fell short in Oregon is disappointing. But the voters of Colorado and Washington have shown that, just as occurred during the repeal of alcohol prohibition, the states will be the ones setting the standard for nationwide reform."


Journalists wishing to arrange interviews with LEAP speakers should contact Tom Angell at media@leap.cc or Darby Beck at darby@leap.cc. 

End-of-the-Night Thoughts

On the night of this historic election, I am once again humbled and awed by the devotion of my colleagues who worked so hard for the victories we have achieved today and by the wisdom of the voters in Colorado, Washington, Massachusetts, Detroit and elsewhere who cast their votes for a smarter and more humane justice system. Most of my experience with the war on drugs has been characterized by loss. Today the story of my experience has turned to one of hope. The pace of reform is increasing. It took us a long time to get here, but we have finally begun to win the war on drugs by realizing it is time for that war to end.

Thanks to all of you, 
Neill Franklin, Executive Director, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

Journalists wishing to arrange interviews with LEAP speakers should contact Tom Angell at media@leap.cc or Darby Beck at darby@leap.cc. 

Detroit Voters Decriminalize Marijuana

In the latest in a series of a victories for drug law reform advocates, Detroit voters just passed Proposal M, decriminalizing marijuana.  

"The Motor City once again proved itself a leader in civic innovation as voters opted to decriminalize adult possession of small amounts of marijuana tonight," said LEAP Executive Director Neill Franklin, "It will now join the ranks of other states and localities who have successfully implemented similar policies, demonstrating to the rest of the country the wisdom and justice of such models." 

Journalists wishing to arrange interviews with LEAP speakers should contact Tom Angell at media@leap.cc or Darby Beck at darby@leap.cc.